Luigi Tecce 'Poliphemo' 2018
Aglianico from Taurasi DOCG in Capmpania
Regular price $91.99
2018 'Poliphemo'
$86.99 on 3+ US Low (code: 3saves5)
$91.99 SALE
$99.99 reg
Tecce's Masterpiece
The Poliphemo Riserva bottling is Luigi Tecce’s most archaic expression of a Taurasi, from centenarian vines (really vine-trees!). It is not only one of the great wines of Taurasi, but one of the great wines of Italy. Italian wine lovers know Mastrobernardino’s 1968 Taurasi bottling as one of Italy’s greatest wines. Tecce may take that honor in the future: fine wine critic John Gilliam has compared Tecce to famous Bruno Giacosa.* And, Italy’s Espresso wine guide, long considered the most searching and aesthetically rigorous of the Italian guides, rated Tecce’s 2012 Poliphemo 1st on their listing of wine to cellar, followed by Giuseppe Mascarello’s Barolo Monprivato and Roagna’s Barbaresco. ** Yet, for all the fanfare of late, Luigi Tecce leads a simple life, surrounded by his dogs, vines, and books. He is enamored with the study of ancient history, especially Greco-Roman and medieval monastic, thus his label with Polyphemus, the one-eyed giant. In Homer’s epic poem, the protagonist Odysseus, trapped in a cave, offers Poliphemo wine. Now a bit drunk, he pleads for help from his fellow giants, saying “Nobody” has hurt him, since Odysseus has given his name as ‘Nobody’ when asked by the giant. The 2018 is not about the fruit; this R18 is an essential, purely intellectual Taurasi. Exotically spicy, with aThere's a sweet-n-salty meatiness from the attack to the finish; a love bite. One of the most intellectual, relatively young vibes from Tecce I’ve tasted in a while. A very strong showing from Tecce here. World-class - still wild. - Importer
94 VINOUS (2016) No score for the 2018 yet, but this note for the 2016 in the previous release encapsulates what a great vintage like 2018 in the zone can produce:
The 2016 Taurasi Riserva Poliphemo Vecchie Vigne is earthy and savory to the core. Its bouquet evokes crushed oyster shells, wet stone, cigar ash and undergrowth before giving way to musky black currants. For all of its animalistic qualities on the nose, this is surprisingly silky and refined, impressing with its purity of fruit and saline mineral tones excited by citrus-tinged acidity. The palate is left reeling in youthful tension, as a coating of fine tannins is further complicated by bitter lemon rind traces. This is old-school and pretty polarizing, but in a way that I find wildly attractive.
Grape: 100% Aglianico
Place: Paternopoli Cru and Castelfranci subzones of Taurasi
Farming: practicing organic
Vineyard: 100+ year-old vines, head trained tall trunks - raggiera avellinese - they look like bush vines on a pergola; planted at 1,800 ft ASL in sandy and clay limestone soils, enriched by pyroclastics (pumice from Vesuvius’s ancient volcanic eruptions)
Harvest Dates: between the end of October and beginning of November
Winemaking: Fermentation takes place in open chestnut tini for 40 days.
Aging: Élevage for 12 months in large 500 Liter puncheons, then 24 months in large wooden botti grandi (50HL). Finally, a minimum of 24 months in bottle before release.
ABV: 14%
$86.99 on 3+ US Low (code: 3saves5)
$91.99 SALE
Tecce's Masterpiece
The Poliphemo Riserva bottling is Luigi Tecce’s most archaic expression of a Taurasi, from centenarian vines (really vine-trees!). It is not only one of the great wines of Taurasi, but one of the great wines of Italy. Italian wine lovers know Mastrobernardino’s 1968 Taurasi bottling as one of Italy’s greatest wines. Tecce may take that honor in the future: fine wine critic John Gilliam has compared Tecce to famous Bruno Giacosa.* And, Italy’s Espresso wine guide, long considered the most searching and aesthetically rigorous of the Italian guides, rated Tecce’s 2012 Poliphemo 1st on their listing of wine to cellar, followed by Giuseppe Mascarello’s Barolo Monprivato and Roagna’s Barbaresco. ** Yet, for all the fanfare of late, Luigi Tecce leads a simple life, surrounded by his dogs, vines, and books. He is enamored with the study of ancient history, especially Greco-Roman and medieval monastic, thus his label with Polyphemus, the one-eyed giant. In Homer’s epic poem, the protagonist Odysseus, trapped in a cave, offers Poliphemo wine. Now a bit drunk, he pleads for help from his fellow giants, saying “Nobody” has hurt him, since Odysseus has given his name as ‘Nobody’ when asked by the giant. The 2018 is not about the fruit; this R18 is an essential, purely intellectual Taurasi. Exotically spicy, with aThere's a sweet-n-salty meatiness from the attack to the finish; a love bite. One of the most intellectual, relatively young vibes from Tecce I’ve tasted in a while. A very strong showing from Tecce here. World-class - still wild. - Importer
94 VINOUS (2016) No score for the 2018 yet, but this note for the 2016 in the previous release encapsulates what a great vintage like 2018 in the zone can produce:
The 2016 Taurasi Riserva Poliphemo Vecchie Vigne is earthy and savory to the core. Its bouquet evokes crushed oyster shells, wet stone, cigar ash and undergrowth before giving way to musky black currants. For all of its animalistic qualities on the nose, this is surprisingly silky and refined, impressing with its purity of fruit and saline mineral tones excited by citrus-tinged acidity. The palate is left reeling in youthful tension, as a coating of fine tannins is further complicated by bitter lemon rind traces. This is old-school and pretty polarizing, but in a way that I find wildly attractive.
Grape: 100% Aglianico
Place: Paternopoli Cru and Castelfranci subzones of Taurasi
Farming: practicing organic
Vineyard: 100+ year-old vines, head trained tall trunks - raggiera avellinese - they look like bush vines on a pergola; planted at 1,800 ft ASL in sandy and clay limestone soils, enriched by pyroclastics (pumice from Vesuvius’s ancient volcanic eruptions)
Harvest Dates: between the end of October and beginning of November
Winemaking: Fermentation takes place in open chestnut tini for 40 days.
Aging: Élevage for 12 months in large 500 Liter puncheons, then 24 months in large wooden botti grandi (50HL). Finally, a minimum of 24 months in bottle before release.
ABV: 14%